LANDLORDS and estate agents are to be reminded of their legal obligations as part of a council crackdown.

Rental prices in Oxfordshire are among some of the highest in the country, made worse by the high demand and short supply.

The county council now says it wants to increase its work to educate and advise landlords and letting agents of what they are obliged to do under law.

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Judith Heathcoat, the council's deputy leader and cabinet member for community safety, said: “Some landlords might not understand their legal requirements in ensuring they make premises safe for residents, and we hope we can work constructively with them.

“However, our Trading Standards team cannot tolerate exploitation of tenants by rogue landlords and letting agents. We will use all our powers to protect vulnerable residents.”

Rogue landlords and businesses who fail to provide sufficiently good accommodation, rip off their tenants and charge illegal deposits could all feel the council’s wrath.

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Last April, another crackdown – that time by the city council – saw a Headington woman given a suspended six month jail term for a host of offences.

Sandhya Anand, then 51, was found guilty of harassing and unlawfully evicting tenants and obstructing council officers.